Trump extends deportation protections for Ukraine and Sudan immigrants

Oct 18, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security announced on October 18, 2026, that over 100,000 Ukrainian immigrants and 1,800 Sudanese nationals will temporarily retain deportation protections under Temporary Protected Status beyond their October 19 expiration date. The hold comes as Republicans face political pressure ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, following the Trump administration's revocation of protections for over 1 million migrants and recent moves easing sanctions on Russian oil.

Ukraine TPS extension

▪As of March 2025, more than 100,000 Ukrainian nationals were enrolled in Temporary Protected Status in the United States, including individuals admitted under Biden-era sponsorship policies
▪Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainian nationals was scheduled to expire on Monday, October 19, 2026, before the Department of Homeland Security announced protections would remain in place until an official decision
▪The Department of Homeland Security stated on October 18, 2026, that over 100,000 Ukrainian immigrants in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status will retain deportation protection for now while a final decision is pending

Sudan TPS extension

▪Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese nationals was scheduled to expire on Monday, October 19, 2026, prior to the Department of Homeland Security's October 18, 2026 decision allowing them to remain protected
▪Sudan has been involved in a civil war for over three years that has caused political turmoil and a severe food crisis throughout the nation
▪The Department of Homeland Security announced on October 18, 2026, that approximately 1,800 Sudanese nationals enrolled in Temporary Protected Status will retain deportation protections while a final decision remains pending

Midterm election pressures

▪President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown has created political challenges for Republicans ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, putting Republican control of Congress at risk
▪Former Biden administration Homeland Security official Royce Murray stated that the Trump administration's lack of clarity regarding Temporary Protected Status creates instability for beneficiaries and their employers

U.S. sanctions on Russia

▪President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, October 16, 2026, exempting Russia from new congressional sanctions targeting Russian officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions
▪President Donald Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries to lower global fuel prices, but Zelensky pledged to continue strikes after Russia attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure
▪In October 2026, the United States lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports that were originally implemented to restrict Moscow's ability to fund its military invasion of Ukraine

TPS program overview

▪The Biden administration first enacted Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians in spring 2022 following Russia's invasion, whereas Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese nationals has been extended by various presidential administrations since the late 1990s
▪Created by Congress in 1990, Temporary Protected Status allows the U.S. government to offer temporary deportation reprieves and work permits to foreign nationals unable to safely return to countries facing armed conflict or disasters